Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 5, 8 April 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

UNITY OF EMPIRE. I j ? United Pbksh Association.] 1 London, April 7. I The National Liberal Club gave a luncheon to Sir T;:omas Mackenzie, and Messrs Perley and Schrciner. in proposing the health of the guests, Lord Crewe, said that the lessons and experiences, of the war had tended to make the appeals for Empire co-operation more active and more intelligent. They were not afraid to confer on the possibilities of a fiscal union between the different parts of the Empire, though they had sharply-divided public opinion. This country was the most ardent evangelist of a new fiscal system, but a union of Empire, they would admit, could only be reached by surmounting great difficulties, affecting not, only the domestic relations of different parts of the Empire, but also the exterior relations of the Empire and other countries. No one would deny that the relations with the colonies should not be studied and reexamined as a consequence of the con- ; vulsion which had affected all the rela-' tions of the whole world. The time might not be distant when a closer political union between ourselves and other parts of the Empire might be brought about. Sir Thomas Mackenzie' said thaftbe Dominions were prepared to proportionately bear the burdens of Imperial responsibility. It was only right and proper that they sh6hki'have a proportionate share in State affairs.

•OPTIMISTIC GERMAN VIEW. London April :(■.. ' A letter written in Berlin last week has been published in The Times. It says: "While most people do not believe all they read in the German press, things are better than they are stated in England, there have been no disturbances except small butter riots. The police are very watchful. People are angry that good food is supplied to prisoners at Ruhleben and have threatened to attack the camp. The police have provided a machinegun for its projection." '•' *

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. London, April 6. In the House of Commons Mr McKenna moved to stop the Parliament, ary salary of members who are drawing full pay from the ; ''military and naval forces. Mr Bambury moved an amendment to abolish • payment of members, but there was much opposition to this introducing'a Staie^pwiucal sußject at such .i time, several characterising it as a breach of the political 'truce. The amendment was rejected by 247 to 32, and Mr McKenna then withdrew his motion. The last batches of unmarried men joined the colors to-day. The War Office has removed papermakers from the list of exempted occupation's. ~ , . Tiie Ministry of MunitionsvhW. fixed maximum prices of pig-i>'on for various provinces m England They are based on the existing abnormal conditions.